9-0 Linton Miners at 7-2 South Vermillion Wildcats Sect 37 2A

[Miner_Pride]

It’s really hard to believe that Linton and South Vermillion have never met when you consider all the opponents Linton has faced over their history.  However, there were two meetings between the predecessor of South V, Clinton.  It’s interesting that South Vermillion was not a consolidation, but an official name change from Clinton in 1977. The Wildcats (of Clinton) did “absorb” some schools (Dana, Hillsdale and St. Bernice back in 1961).  They had a several successful teams in their history, and in two meetings with the Miners they didn’t allow a point!  In 1972 in was at least a game at 14-0, but in 1973 Clinton destroyed Linton 61-0. That was the last time Clinton/South Vermillion and Linton squared off.

Head Coach Greg Barrett came to South Vermillion in 2017 after the Wildcats had endured 7 losing seasons in a row, and he led SV to a 7-3 start.  He came from North Putnam where he went 57-34 over 8 years.  In 2008, his first year at North Put was 10-1, and in 2010 they made it to state (actually losing 26-14)losing by a heartbreaking one point (28-27) to Ft. Wayne Luers to end a 14-1 season. As far as I can see, South Vermillion has not won a sectional crown.  With a win Friday it gives SV their first 8-win season since 2009. They have been in a couple of Sectional Championship games but lost both- 2019 lost to Western Boone 56-14, and in 2004 lost to Tri-West 47-13.  There’s no question Coach Barrett have brought an environment of success to the Wildcat Football program having gone 35-25 in his 6^th year at South Vermillion, and over-all at 92-59.  Since his arrival SV has had four 7-win seasons in his 6 years. 

The Wildcats are 7-2 coming into the Sectional with their 2 losses coming to 5-4 Sullivan 24-14 in week 2 on the road, and a 19-15 loss to 7-2 Seeger in week 8. Of their 7 wins, two have come again +.500 teams (North Vermillion 5-4, a 35-19 win, and 38-0 over 7-2 Riverton Parke).  They have wins against West Vigo (3-6), Covington (3-6) Attica (0-9)  Fountain Central (3-6) and Parke Heritage (1-8).  The Miners under Coach Brian Oliver, who just achieved his 100^th win against 21 losses in 10 years at Linton, have just finished their 2^nd unbeaten regular Season in a row.  Their wins feature last week’s 35-10 win over 7-2 South Putnam, a 50-40 shootout with 4A 6-3 Boonville, 40-20 over 5-4 Sullivan, 42-7 over 5-4 N.Daviess, and 64-15 5-4 over N.Vermillion.  In head to head comparisons the most obvious would the Arrows.  In Linton’s 20-point win back in week 4 the Miners ran for 312 of their 381 total yards.  381 was the 2^nd lowest Miner output of the year, and probably would be the lowest had the North Knox game not been a running clock.  Where Linton’s running game was key in their win, it was 255 of passing that was the most effective against Arrows for SV. That was the biggest output of the year for the Wildcats in terms of passing (17 of 25).  However, SV could not run at all against Sullivan (34 yards on 31 attempts) while Linton subsidized their run game with 69 pass yards on 7-12 passing with a TD.  As it was in South Putnam’s preview, South Vermillion runs a spread offense with multiple receivers and a single back.  Sullivan passed for 224 yards against Linton and ran for 121.  Sullivan had 123 rushing and threw for 197 against South Vermillion.  It should be mentioned that Rowdy Adams, Sullivan’s elusive QB, was injured in the SV game and missed most of the game.  Against Linton he didn’t appear at qb until the 2^nd quarter and Linton had put up 20 points by then (Interceptions thrown by the back-up playing a major point).    Obviously both teams easily dispensed of Parke Heritage (Linton 56-6 SV 48-0 ) and North Vermillion (Linton 64-15 SV 35-19). 

SV starts with Soph QB Dom Garzolini (#1 6’0 195) who has thrown for 993 yards on 59-91 (64.8%) passing with 10 TDs and 3 Interceptions.  Garzolini is not a scrambler or a runner as we’ve seen with Conner from Boonville, Adams from Sullivan or White from NV, and had -4 yards on 26 attempts.  He does have #34 Dalton Payton (Sr 5;10 170) to hand the ball to, with his 944 yards on 100 carries and 14 TDs.  He had a 9.4 per carry average.  #5 Gabe Clay (Sr 5’9 145) has his share as well with 70 touches and 442 yards with 5 TDs.  #25 Alex Shryock is the H back (Soph, 5’9 165) has just 4 carries for 30 yards and no catches.  Payton out of the backfield has 11 catches for 200 yards and 2 scores. Leading receiving is #8 Dallas Coleman (Soph, 5’11 168) with 16 for 316 and 3 TDs.  Coleman adds 78 yards and 2 TDs rushing.  #9 Parker Weir (Soph 5.8 141) has 3 catches and 53-yard rushing with 2 total TDs.  Their version of a Tight End is the “Y” receiver and that’s #80 Ryan Straw (Sr 6’0 210) who has 2 TDs on 6-98 receiving.  Clay adds 9 catches for 161 (2 TD) while Aiden Wallace (#10, Soph 5’11 135) adds 44-yard rushing and 8 catches for 112 yards. As a team they average 304.67 per game, 192.78 on the ground, 111.69 in the air. 

Linton is led by Sr QB Hunter Gennicks (#15, 6’0 195) with 1,125 yards at 10.82 per carry (104).   He has thrown 148 times hitting on 86 (58.1%) for 1,209 yards and 16 TDs against 3 interceptions.  Sr Hunter Johns (#12, 5’8 180) has been solid at Running Back all year with 650 yards rushing on 83 carries (7.83), as well as 6 catches (usually screens) for 73 yards and a score.  Between Gennicks (18) and Johns (12) they have 30 rushing TDs. Wingbacks #8 Jesse Voigtschild (Soph 5,7 150) and #16 Braden Walters (Jr 6’5 190) are both involved in both facets of offense.  Walters, is his first year of varsity football, leads the Miners with 22 catches for 393 yards and 5 scores, along with 3 scores on 38 carries for 249 rushing.  Voigtschild adds 335 on the ground with 43 carries and 5 TDs, but also 2 receiving scores on 10 catches for 187 yards.  Sr Logan Webb (#23, 6’4 205) missed a game and a half but was back last week.  He has 20 catches for 214 and 2 scores. Freshman Paul Oliver (#13 6’3 205) has been a weapon with 18 receptions for 291 yards and 5 catches. 6’1 165 Soph #15 Hayden Feltner has also gotten in action with a couple catches as well.  With all that firepower, the biggest threat still may be in Gennicks ability to move with the ball.  He has 188 scramble yards, and his ability to make plays when needed has been something to see in 2022.

Each Team’s defense will have to keep big plays to a minimum if not completely stopped.  Linton did a great job of that last week at South Putnam with no 20+ yard plays. Miner ILB Russell Goodman (Fr, #6, 6;2 180) has become the leading tackler since being moved in as a full-time starter in week 6.  He had a stunning 23-tackle game last week, and over-all has 79 tackles, 7.5 for loss.  Both jar Christian Shonk (#4 5’10 180) and Sr Bradyn Cox (#5 5’10 185) rotate at the other ILB.  OLB’s have been very good for Linton with Oliver leading the team in TFL (14) and sacks (5) as well as in Hurries (15).  Sr Wrigley Franklin (#51 6’23 225) in 3^rd in tackles with 56.5 and 11 TFL with 2 sacks.  He and Oliver both are leapers and have several passes they have knocked down or tipped or merely forced a QB to alter his throw.  A 3-man front features a rotation of Ends Ashton White (Jr #33 6’0 194), Sr Aiden Giles (#56, 6’3 200), Soph Hank Gennicks (#69 6’2 250) and Jr Ty Boyd (#54 6’1 210).  White is 2^nd in tackles with 64 with 7.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.  He started the year as a back up linebacker but earned his way to start.  Giles has 52.5 tackles 6.5 TFL, and started the year at ILB, but moved back to his 2020 position and has been solid.  Boyd is, if there ever is a need) the tight end you might see him wearing #9.  It changes it seems every week!  The Defensive Backfield was tested against the Eagles last week and did very well.  They will see much the same from the Wildcats.  Johns and Voigtschild are both undersized at 5’7 and 5’8 but their speed and technique are on target.  Gennicks and Walters are the safeties, with Gennicks solid in run support (56 tackles 4 for loss). 

The Miner front will face against 4 juniors and 1 senior on the South Vermillion offensive Line.  The lone senior is RG Gus Shryock (#77 6’2 225), and he has Jr Payton Stevens (#78 6’1 261) on his right.  The Center is Jr Carter Wood (#68 6’1 190), while the left side has guard Jr Aaron Kersy (#56 6’2 269) and tackle Jr Zach Hess (#66 6’2 300).  The Miner offensive line consists of Center Sr Nathan Watson (374 6’0 255), Guard Aiden Giles (Sr #56, 6’3 200) and Tackle Jr Jacob Breedlove (#77 6’7 300) on the right side, while guard Sr Wrigley Franklin (#51 6/3 225) and Soph Hank Gennicks (#69 6’2 250) on the right.  The Miners average 435.78 per game on offense, 300.67 on the ground, 135.1 in the air. 

The Wildcat Defense is led by ILB Ryan Straw #80 (6’0 210) with 75 stops, 7.5 TFL, 5 Sacks>  #7 Dylan Hill (Soph #7 6;0 156) joins him, with OLB’s Payton and Alex Shryock.  Payton has 48 tackles 5 TFL 2 sacks).  Up front it’s Gus Shryock (Sr #77 6/2 225) who has 60 tackles 12.5 for loss 8.5 sacks.  Zach Hess (#66 Jr 6;2 300) is 2^nd in tackles with 63, 6 TFL 2 Sacks), Logan Fiock Soph #79 6.4 234) had 8.5 TFL 3.5 Sacks, and Will Clay-Faulkner (Jr #81 5;11 157) who had 8 TFL and 6 sacks.    The Backfield will have  their hands full as well with #9 Parker Weir (Soph 5;8 141) #11 Dylan Conder (Jr 5;10 162) and #8 Dallas Coleman (Soph 5;11 168). 

 

Both defenses have 8 interceptions each on the year, 3 from the Wildcats’ Coleman as well for Linton’s Hunter Gennicks.  2 of Gennicks picks went for TDs, actually all three did but one was called by on a questionable flag.  South Vermillion has 3 pick-six to their resume- Clay, Hill and Conder.  Linton’s Hunter Johns has 2 kickoffs return TDs and SV’s Coleman and Payton each have a KO return score as well.  Coleman is an obvious threat, as he also has a punt return TD.  The kicking game seems strong as well with South Vermillion’s Dominick Hanson and Linton Nathan Fray.   Frady didn’t start kicking until mid-year and is 16 of 23 and has hit a 40-yard Field Goal.  Hanson is 2-3 on field goals with a long of 30, and 34 of 37 on Pats  One area Linton will need to improve was turnovers and penalties.  Linton has 16 turnovers on the year and had 4 in last week’s win.   Games can be decided on a single turnover at this point in the season, and certainly losing points or giving first downs due to an infraction can play big roles in any game.

For Linton, the whole purpose of the season is to prepare for the post-season.  All the work put in is for this time of the year.  I’m sure South Vermillion has the same goals.  It is yet another long road trip for Linton as well, but they’ve handled that thus far.  For the seniors it is now do or die time.   Linton with 10, South V with 7.  One thing noticeable about the Wildcats are the amount of Sophomore’s on the roster-21.  4 of the 6 skill players are sophomores, and there are only 3 seniors starting on offense for the Wildcats.   5 Sophs start on the Defense for SV. Linton has 2 freshman and 2 sophs starting on defense, and a roster loaded with 20 freshmen. 

The game will be broadcast on your friendly radio and 93.3 WQTY, as well as streamed audio and www.wqtyradio.net.

ATTACHED ARE STARTERS/STATS on Microsoft Word

Linton South Vermillion Starters-Stats.docx

[Donnie Baker]

Blowout for Liptons. I swear to God it is. 

[Spitting Llamas]

Update?